UK police want more time to hold some plot suspects

British police will apply for more time on to question some of the 11 suspects still being held over an alleged plot to blow up US-bound airliners, according to prosecutors.

"We are going to be making an application for more time to question some of the people concerned," a spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said.

She could not say how many of the suspects police wanted to continue questioning, and gave no further details on whether any remaining suspects would be charged or released.

British police said on August 10 they had arrested more than 20 people and foiled a plot to blow up planes in the mid-Atlantic using liquid explosives disguised as drinks.

An initial 11 British Muslims were charged on Monday with conspiracy to murder and plotting to detonate homemade bombs on planes or with other terrorism-related offences after police said they found bomb-making equipment, suicide notes and "martyrdom videos" during their investigation.

They appeared in court on Tuesday and have been remanded in custody awaiting trial.

As many as 17 more people, including at least two British nationals, are being held in Pakistan over the suspected plot.

The charges come 13 months after four British Islamist suicide bombers killed themselves and 52 other people on public transport in London.